Edie's Retro Rocker Jeans

Edie's Retro Rocker Jeans

This bleached-out retro look from the '80s is back! And, it’s so easy to recreate. The secret is to use black dye on white jeans. Forget the bleach (it can be very caustic)! These jeans started out white; then they were scrunched up, wrapped with rubber bands and immersed in a black dye bath.

Supplies Needed

• Rit Black Dye – 1 bottle or 2 boxes
• White Cotton Jeans
• 4-Cup Measuring Cup
• Large Spoon
• Large Plastic 2-Gallon Container
• Rubber Gloves
• 5 - 7 Small Rubber Bands
• 1 Cup Salt
• Plastic Table Cover

Instructions

1. Wash jeans with warm water and mild detergent.
2. Rinse and squeeze out excess water.
3. Scrunch up jeans, beginning from the bottom of each leg and working toward the top.
   
    
4. Wrap each leg with rubber bands. Then wrap legs and top of jeans together.
   Note: The tighter the rubber bands are tied, the more white area there will be.

   
   
    

5. Soak tied jeans in warm water, if not wet.
6. Cover work surface with plastic table cover.
7. Wearing rubber gloves, shake bottle of black dye and pour into a measuring cup.
   Add 1 cup salt and 4 cups very hot tap water (140°F); stir.
   Note: If your tap water is not hot, heat water in the microwave or in a tea kettle.
8. Test dye color by dipping small piece of scrap fabric in dye bath.
9. Add 1 gallon very hot tap water; stir.
10. Immerse wrapped wet jeans into dye bath. Let set for 20 minutes. To help dye
    penetration, turn jeans occasionally and push down with spoon.
    
     
11. Lift jeans from dye bath and remove rubber bands.
12. Rinse jeans in cool water until water runs clear. Then launder in warm water with a mild detergent; rinse and hang to dry.